Page 22 of Romancing Melanie
Noah didn’t want to tell her the truth, that he had found this spot weeks ago, and had envisioned bringing her here for a romantic picnic for just as long. Admitting that his romantic feelings had been growing for a long time might scare her away instead of drawing her in closer.
“Oh, you know, I was walking here one day and just figured it would be a peaceful place for lunch,” he replied casually as he whipped out the blanket and spread it on the ground. Then he carefully lifted out the LED candles he had also packed, to try and add to a romantic ambience, even if it was the middle of the day. At least, he hoped Mel would find it romantic. Now, looking at the set up while she was busy unloading her own pack, he worried it would come across as cheap and cheesy. Fake candles? What was he thinking?
But when Mel turned around, the shock on her face, followed by a blush that filled her cheeks, was reassuring.
“Noah, this is, I mean, what…” she trailed off as she sank down on the blanket, her fingertips brushing the LED candles. She looked up at him, where he still stood nervously holding his hands together. “This is amazing, Noah.” She smiled and reached a hand up to him. He took it and sank down to the blanket beside her.
“Yeah? It’s not too cheesy? I just wanted us to have a nice afternoon, throw a little romance in the air, see what would happen.” He tried to joke it off, still feeling a bit worried about whether he had taken it too far.
“Well, I’m not going to jump you in a public park, but I love this.” Melanie laughed, then leaned forward to press a sweet kiss to his cheek. Her lips lingered for a second, and when she pulled back slightly, Noah reached up to cup her face with his hand, turning slightly so that he could give her a proper kiss. He didn’t actually mean for things to get too heated, Mel was right, they were still in a very public space, but the second his lips touched hers, something inside took over and he couldn’t get enough. She wasn’t close enough, there wasn’t enough skin touching skin, he needed more. More of her. As his lips moved against hers, he felt her shift until she was straddling his legs, pressing her hot core right where his cock was hardening in his shorts. The compression from his cycling clothes made things quite uncomfortable, but Noah wasn’t about to stop what was happening. He was pushing down the alpha side of him that kissing Mel had brought out last time and trying to let her lead. As she moved against him, her fingers tugging at his hair, and her lips trailing over his face, he fought every instinct that told him to flip her over and ravage her on the blanket. He suspected she had enjoyed the more dominant side that had emerged during their passionate moment a few days ago, but for now she had to be in control. He needed her to come to the realization that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her, all by herself. And judging by the way she was throwing herself into the passion igniting between them on this blanket, it would seem she was almost there.
* * *
Was this heaven, or was this hell? Mel couldn’t say for certain, as the exquisite torture of kissing Noah, but being unable to take it further, filled her, making her ache. His adorable attempt at a romantic picnic had made her practically swoon inside. When was the last time a man had gone to such lengths to make her feel so special, so wanted? She was positive Darren had never put in effort like this, which only served to solidify her growing resolve that a relationship with Noah would be different. They could keep it light and fun, couldn’t they? Just because they gave in to the physical chemistry, didn’t mean she was locked down for life in a relationship with him…But what if I want to be?Before she could figure out what that thought meant, Noah seemed to change, to take charge. She had felt him holding back, giving her the space to take things as far as she wanted to go, but something must have shifted inside of him because the next thing she knew, she was flat on her back on the blanket, and he was propped up on his strong arms over top of her. His muscled forearms were right beside her, so close all she had to do was turn her head and run her lips over them. He groaned, and shifted onto one arm, using his other hand to run his fingers along the sliver of skin that was revealed where her shirt and shorts met.
“I honestly had planned on us eating lunch first,” he said, his voice low and gravelly with need. “But now, tasting you, is all I can imagine.”
Mel felt his words echo through her body and pool at her center, generating enough heat she was certain she was burning from the inside out.
“We can’t do this here,” she gasped. Noah simply growled and pulled her closer. This dominant, sensual side of him was so unexpected but such a damn turn on. Regretfully, she put her hands on his shoulders and pushed back gently, but continued to pepper his face with kisses so that he would hopefully realize she wasn’t running away. Not this time.
“Noah, we’re in a park. Believe me, I don’t want to stop, just like I didn’t want to stop last time. And this time I’m not going to run away just because I’m telling you we have to wait until we’re in private.” She held his gaze, hoping he could see she meant what she was saying. There would be no more running from their chemistry. What the future held, she wasn’t ready to answer. But for now, she needed to get Noah Carlisle in bed.
He huffed out a sigh but leaned back to let her sit up beside him. He kept one hand on her leg, stroking up and down lazily. “I know you’re right. You just make me forget myself, Mel.”
She leaned in to kiss him gently. “That’s the sweetest, most cheesy thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“Brace yourself, woman, I’ve been keeping all of my cheesy lines inside. Now you’re in for it.”
Melanie giggled, feeling happier and more carefree than she had in years.
“Okay, okay, at least save the corny lines until after I’ve eaten something, please.”
Noah reached for the sandwiches and handed her half, then fixed her with a wicked grin. “Save some of your appetite. I’ve got something big for you to eat later.”
Mel couldn’t contain herself, laughing so hard she almost sprayed her drink everywhere. “Oh my god, Noah.”
He just waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively, before diving into his own sandwich. As they sat there, eating in a comfortable silence, as they had done so many times before, Mel was acutely aware of the subtle differences this time. The flirtatious banter was nothing new, but it was definitely sexier and filled with erotic promises that now she knew would come true. And she realized that she seemed to unconsciously need to feel him, somehow. Whether it was his hand on her leg, or their shoulders touching, she was beginning to crave his touch.
After lunch was finished, they tidied up, sharing kisses and sensual touches as they cleaned up their garbage and rolled up the blanket to return it to Noah’s packs. Before they put their helmets on, Melanie decided she needed to make it abundantly clear to him what her intentions for the rest of the day were. She walked over to him and went up on her toes, pulled his head down and whispered in his ear.
“Forget the rest of the loop. Let’s take the fastest way back to your apartment, and once we’ve showered off the sweat from our ride, let’s get some exercise in a different way.”
Noah’s eyebrows shot up, and he captured her lips in a kiss that was so seductive she felt herself grow damp between her legs. When he ground his hips into hers, the answering hardness of his body told her he was just as aroused.
“Riding home is going to fucking hurt, woman,” Noah growled. “So let’s get going so you can ease my misery.”
Chapter 11
Noah hadn’t been joking. Riding home with a hard-on was one of the most painful things he had ever endured. And he would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant he could relive this moment over and over again.
Melanie was standing in his bathroom, slowly peeling off her cycling clothes. The shower was already on and steam was filling the room. She had her back to him, but he knew she could tell he was watching. When she tossed a coy look over her shoulder, then opened the shower door, he quickly pulled off his clothes, tossed them haphazardly into his hamper, then strode into the bathroom and stepped into the large shower stall with her. Her head was tipped back under the spray, her eyes were closed, her fingers slowly unbraiding her hair as water ran in rivulets down her face and body. He traced one with his fingers, as it moved down her neck, between her breasts and over the front of her hips. Unable to contain himself any longer, he grasped her hips with a growl and pushed her against the wall of his shower, devouring her mouth with a kiss.
He pulled back slightly, needing to see in her eyes that this time, they were really going to do this. “Mel, you’re sure? This is going to change things. I love our friendship, and you know I want more. But I won’t lose you because of that.”Even if it will absofuckinglutely kill me to stop right now,he thought grimly.
Mel didn’t answer with words, she answered with her body, as she dropped to her knees and took his rigid length in her hand. He braced himself on the wall, and looked down at her, feeling the heat of the water pounding on his back. She stroked him up and down twice before she finally said something.
“I want this, Noah. I want you.”
